Eurovision Song Contest....time to leave?

At the risk of repeating myself....

We pay into the EBU, one of the benefits is entry to the Eurovision Song Contest Final. It's not the only benefit.

We don't enter to win. We enter to be there. Remember that old saying? It matters not to win or lose but how you play the game.

So we pay to be in the final so that we can suffer the humiliation of getting no votes. That’s crazy.

If the BBC is paying a good amount, then Eurovision accepting a refusal by the BBC to accept a bye could be a bargaining point for continuing to pay the good amount.

Also, getting a bye means no benefit of having been in a semi-final.

The BBC aren't insisting on special treatment

5 countries pay the most so get an entry into the final

It's just how it is

Eurovision All Winners 1956-2019

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eTmxxegleo

Gannygangan

We get a bye through to the final because we fund the thing!

We're part of the Big 5 ...France, Germany, Italy, Spain and us.

So we automatically go through.

We've not done well for 25 years or more.

Yes, but people make the rules, the BBC should insist on no special treatment.

Getting a bye is just not British. fair play.

We get a bye through to the final because we fund the thing!

We're part of the Big 5 ...France, Germany, Italy, Spain and us.

So we automatically go through.

We've not done well for 25 years or more.

It seems to me that the best way forward would be for the BBC to declare that we will no longer accept a bye through to the final, and that we will go all out to be enthusiastic and win, recognising that we need not only a song that is fine in a variety show but also has sparkle and a performance that is novel and memorable even to people who know no English whatsoever.
When the UK has won, the song has been upbeat, fast tempo, and memorable.

Like Puppet on a String.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmyh9mUga-w

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZX77a0Bnmk

This year was the first time I didn't watch Eurovision. Speaking about the song, it really wasn't great.

The only reason we still take part IMO is that the BBC own the programme and make loads of money from it. That's why we get straight onto the final without having to compete in the heats. Everyone else takes it very seriously, we treat it as a joke - we all loved Terry and now Graham. With the way we are viewed by the other nations coupled with our unimaginative entries all in all it's not surprising we don't do well.

Years ago, when Norway was the first country to get "nil points" one of their commentators went on to a talk show and declared that the rest of us had all got it wrong. The whole point of the contest was to come out with "nil points". Perhaps we should adopt his attitude.

I hated it. But it was the favourite to win so people must have seen something in it that I didn’t.

Who liked the winner? I thought it was dire.

Our song was very uninspiring - dreary, repetitive melody and lyrics and very old fashioned. I wouldn't have voted for it either.

Some other years our songs weren't to bad and I don't think we merited such poor marks.

This year I thought the variety and quality of songs was good and there were several that I liked but particularly Switzerland and (I think) Portugal.

I'm still so moved by 'Fallen Angel' by Norway. It is definitely this year's most underrated song, beautiful words and a touching message. It has meaning and should have won.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0r3vmGLzZU

the contest doesnt allow the uk public to pick the one we want to enter the eurovision .and that bloke was as flat as a pancake and the song was awful ,. we want something quirky or someone who can sing .

I know a lot of people that bet on Eurovision and make a profit. The best song usually wins.

No Craftycat, I don't know. Can you tell us how much money we plough into it?

I'm quite tickled that people think the point of this is to win the competition

I skimmed the songs and scoring, absolute rubbish!

I have one question.... since when has Australia been part of Europe?

I quite liked this years song.
Let's face it- we are not at all popular on the Continent as we dared to break free from the EU. We are never going to do well in this show for a long time to come.
I would love it if we just stopped doing it (have you any idea how much money we plough into staging it!!) & hold out own show with only up & coming British artistes. That would develop new talent & still give Graham Norton a job to do!

We have lived, worked and travelled a lot throughout Europe. Music by our artistes are played, enjoyed and sung all across the Continent and Brexit hasn't changed that. Our Eurovision entries are not representative of the wealth of music we have in the UK. Perhaps the choosing of the entries should be taken away from the BBC and put in the hands of someone who has an idea.

Urmstongran ????

19:16Urmstongran

The BBC, fearful of the astronomic cost of staging the contest if we won, gave James Newman a very clear brief: “Lose any way you can.”
?

So James did a thorough job. He composed a woeful song, devoid of any hooks or riffs that might attract a listener. He sang it badly, not hitting a single note from beginning to end. And finally, he wore a body bag, inviting the international judges and audiences to kill him stone dead.

And so it came to pass. Null points.

A brief fulfilled.

Sums it up for me Urmstongran ?????

It is excruciatingly painful to watch and I think a waste of time, it is political voting at it’s clearest. But if people want to watch it then fine, the TV has an off switch.

We love it! Always have a Eurovision party here; always fly the flag! Loved the nerdy Icelandic entry... lol.
Amanda Holden looked like a drag queen and spouted rubbish - she's me, me, me!
The UK song was dire and the chap singing it looked like a grinning drug dealer!
Still love it... love Graham Norton; he had big boots to fill too!